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Someone Threw a Molotov Cocktail Through a Congressman's Office Window

Police are investigating an attempted arson attack on Congressman Emanuel Cleaver's office, after someone threw a molotov cocktail through the window of his Kansas City, Missouri office early this morning.

Police are investigating an attempted arson attack on Congressman Emanuel Cleaver's office, after someone threw a molotov cocktail through the window of his Kansas City, Missouri office just before 3 a.m. this morning. According to the Associated Press, officials were called to the building at 2:50 a.m. when the building's alarm went off.

Police Sgt. Kari Thompson told the AP that officers found smashed bottles of rum and Jagermeister near the broken window. The bottles had paper towels in them that seemed like they were lit at one point. "It appeared they had been ignited but were extinguished during flight," according to the AP.

Rep. Cleaver's office released a statement Thursday noting that this is the second incident in the last six years, and that the office is waiting on a full report from officials.

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Marcia L. Fudge said in her statement that "no one was hurt and an investigation is underway." No staff members were in the building and Cleaver was in Washington D.C. at the time.

Here's the full statement from Cleaver's office:

"As has been reported, early this morning, a window was broken at Congressman Cleaver's Kansas City, Missouri office when an individual attempted to throw an item or items at the building," stated John Jones, Chief of Staff to Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II. "This is the second incident within the last six years. The Kansas City Police have completed their initial survey of the scene and we await their report. None of the staff was in the building, and because Congress is in session, Congressman Cleaver is in Washington, D.C. We have been in constant contact with the staff, and we thank the Kansas City Police, the Kansas City Bomb and Arson Squad, the FBI, and the ATF for their quick response and thorough work. All of the Congressman’s offices will be open for regular business."

And the Congressional Black Caucus:

This morning around 3 a.m., a Molotov cocktail was thrown through the office window of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. No one was hurt and an investigation is underway.

The Congressional Black Caucus strongly condemns this type of vandalism targeted at Congressman Cleaver, and denounces any act of violence towards Members of Congress. This type of abhorrent behavior is the most ineffective means of voicing discontent or disagreement.

I expect a speedy, full, and thorough investigation into this incident by law enforcement, so that those responsible are swiftly apprehended and prosecuted. The person or persons responsible for what happened this morning must be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

This post has been updated.

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.

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